DISASTER

10.23.11

Turkey Quake Toll Tops 200

Abdurrahman Antakyali / AP Photo

A strong earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.2, hit Turkey Sunday morning, waking residents when it struck at 4:32 a.m. local time. More than 200 people have been killed, and an unknown number are trapped underneath the rubble. Rescuers are digging through the rubble of collapsed buildings with their bare hands. "There are many people under the rubble. People are in agony, we can hear screams for help. We need urgent help," said Veysel Keser, the mayor of Ercis. The death toll is likely to rise. Rescue workers struggle to work in the dark, as electricity has been cut to several of the areas.